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INTRODUCTION
Overall, the number of people unemployed in Caithness and Sutherland
fell from 808 last month to 755. The revised unemployment rates in the
Sutherland, Wick and Thurso 'Travel to Work Areas' respectively are as
follows (corresponding figures for last month are in brackets): 3.4%
(3.7%), 4.4% (4.4%) and 2.4% (2.8%).
SKILLSEEKERS
463 people are currently on Skillseekers, 455 of whom are employed status
trainees. There were 6 vocational qualifications achieved, including a
Level II in Thermal Insulation, for Adrian Winchester from Lyth.
MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS
406 Modern Apprentices are currently in training, 116 of whom are over the
age of 25. Trish Warren, Glengolly and Jane Wallace, Weydale were among
the 5 trainees to achieve their Modern Apprentice certificates.
TRAINING FOR WORK
There are currently 17 participants on Training for Work. In addition
to the achievement of 19 qualifications, 3 participants went into
employment following their time on the programme.
NEW DEAL
50 participants started on Gateway, while a further 32 people went into a
variety of employment and training options.
BUSINESS START UP
Gordon Gunn, Wick has received support towards establishing a business as
a traditional fiddle music tutor, while Alistair Murray has received
support to set up 'Atlantic Marketing', a consultancy business. Also
assisted was Susan Ball who will provide a childminding service in Thurso.
BUSINESS SKILLS GRANT
NDS Ltd, Dornoch has received approval of up to £4,000 towards the cost of
achieving IS0 9001.
E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Graham Begg Ltd, Wick and the Stable Studio, Tongue, have both
received approval of assistance which will enable them to develop on-line
trading facilities on the internet.
MARKETING AND CONSULTANCY
Reay Golf Club is to receive £625 towards the cost of an options appraisal
study.
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS
North Highland Forest Trust is to receive up to £26,656 to enable it to
implement their action plan for community woodland development over the
next 3 years, while Caithness Sports Council is to receive £4,500 towards
the 2004/05 Excellence Awards.
Heather Jardine, a Croft Entrant,
is to receive £499 to assist with a development plan for croft 47
Dalhalvaig, Forsinard, while Paul O'Brien is to receive £2,000 as the
outgoer.
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
Visual Arts Sutherland is to receive £2,000
towards their 'Open Studio Trail' pilot project. The objective of the
group is to represent, promote and support practising visual artists
resident in Sutherland with membership open to all practising visual
artists - painters, sculptors, printers, photographers, digital artists
and crafts people. The 'Open Studio Trail' will run in the last week of
May and the first week in September 2005, and will initially focus on 9
artists and sculptor's studios.
APPROVALS FOR JULY 2004
The following are funds approved during the month ending 31st July 2004.
Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments. While finance
may be approved, for a business investment for example, it does not
guarantee that the developments will go ahead. The approval simply shows
that CASE funds have been made available, but they will not be released
until evidence is received that the project or activity has gone ahead.
SKILLSEEKERS - Vocational
qualifications achieved
Adrian Winchester, Lyth, NTP Thermal Insulation Level II; Graham
MacDonald, Harpsdale, JGC Eng. & Tech. Services Ltd, Engineering
Production Level III; James Steven, Barrock, Rolls Royce, Engineering
Maintenance Level III; David Kelly, Thurso, Rolls Royce, Engineering
Maintenance Level III; Derek Keith, Castletown, SECTT, Installing &
Commissioning Electrotechnical Systems Level III; Jamie Innes, Golspie,
SECTT, Installing & Commissioning Electrotechnical Systems Level III
MODERN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME -
Modern Apprenticeship certificates achieved
Jane Wallace, Weydale, ITP Solutions Ltd; Trish Warren, Glengolly, ITP
Solutions Ltd; Graham MacDonald, Harpsdale, JGC Engineering & Technical
Services Ltd; Derek Keith, Castletown, SECTT; Jamie Innes, Golspie, SECTT
TRAINING FOR WORK - Vocational /
other qualifications achieved
Rhona MacKenzie, Lochinver, 20/20 Clearview, European Computer Driving
Licence (ECDL); Susan Macleod, Lochinver, 20/20 Clearview, ECDL; Pauline
Macleod, Lochinver, 20/20 Clearview, ECDL; Catherine Macleod, Lochinver,
20/20 Clearview, ECDL; David Thompson, Lochinver, 20/20 Clearview, ECDL;
Tina Lloyd-Jenkins, Lochinver, 20/20 Clearview, ECDL; Janey Ross,
Lochinver, 20/20 Clearview, ECDL, Margaret Newlands, Lochinver, 20/20
Clearview, ECDL; Jane Young, Lochinver, 20/20 Clearview, ECDL; Mark
McNeill, Wick, ITP Solutions Ltd, RGIT Survival; Nicolas Smith, Dunbeath,
ITP Solutions Ltd, LGV Class 2; Brian Allan, Castletown, North Highland
College, Performing Manufacturing Operations Level I; Tracey Mackenzie,
Weydale, North Highland College, Performing Manufacturing Operations Level
II; Susan Munro, Freswick, North Highland College, Performing
Manufacturing Operations Level II; John Pilkington, Castletown, North
Highland College, Performing Manufacturing Operations Level II; Calum
Souter, Thurso, North Highland College, Performing Manufacturing
Operations Level II; Alan Bremner, Scrabster, North Highland College,
Performing Manufacturing Operations Level II; David Grant, Watten, North
Highland College, Performing Manufacturing Operations Level II; David Gunn,
Geise, North Highland College, Performing Manufacturing Operations Level
II
Bonus payments are also paid to the
Training Provider for every trainee who goes from the scheme to employment
(including self-employment) or further education. The following have been
reported to us as having gone on to employment/further education this
month.
Elaine Shaw, Durness, 20/20
Clearview; Heather Sutherland, Durness, 20/20 Clearview; Andrew Bunn,
Auckengill, 20/20 Clearview
BUSINESS START UP
Susan Ball, Thurso; Gordon Gunn, Wick, ‘Gordon Gunn, Music Tuition’;
Alistair Murray, Thurso, ‘Atlantic Marketing'
BUSINESS SKILLS GRANT
NDS Ltd, Dornoch, ISO 9001, £4,000
E-BUSINESS SUPPORT SCHEME
Graham Begg Ltd, Wick, e-commerce development, £9,900; Stable Studio,
Tongue, e-commerce development, £2,870
MARKETING AND CONSULTANCY
Reay Golf Club, Reay, options appraisal consultancy, £625
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS
North Highland Forest Trust, capacity building, £26,656; Heather Jardine,
Forsinard, croft development plan, £499; Paul O'Brien, Forsinard, croft
non-family assignation, £2,000; Caithness Sports Council, Excellence
Awards 2004/05, £4,500
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Visual Arts Sutherland, ‘Open Studio Trail’, £2,000 |
